System and method for supporting concurrent communication over multiple access points and physical media

ABSTRACT

A system and method for enabling communication concurrently over multiple access points and multiple physical media including but not limited to: cellular, network (e.g., Ethernet), broadband wireless, audio communication schemes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.12/197,740, filed Aug. 25, 2008; which is a continuation application ofU.S. Ser. No. 10/950,031 filed Sep. 24, 2004, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This invention relates generally to the field of computer communication,including data, voice, and video communications, and peer-to-peercommunications; and, particularly, to novel features for simultaneouslycommunicating over multiple access points and physical media.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many computing devices currently have more than a single network access(NA) point installed. For example, a desktop PC may have an Ethernetport, a telephony modem, an audio connection, and a wireless LANconnection. A Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) may have infra red,cellular, and Ethernet connections. Currently each of these networkinterfaces may only be used separately in a single communicationssession.

By way of the following illustrative examples, potential problems mayresult when applications or systems that rely upon use of a singlenetwork media for communications, are rendered inoperable. In a firstexample, a communications system has been set-up whereby ahearing-impaired person uses a critical application like a stenographictranscription over Internet. In this example, a stenographer acts as aninterpreter and transcribes a meeting for the hearing-impaired user. Ina second example, a doctor performs a surgical procedure remotely usinga robot that is controlled by communicating commands via the Internet.Even a temporary stoppage of these applications can seriously affect aprocess, i.e., a hearing-impaired user (in the first example) will beunable to follow the meeting or, the doctor (in the second example)unable to perform the operation. The likelihood of such interruption ismore probable if only one media is used for conducting these processesover the Internet.

In a third example, a communications system utilizing a single networkhas been set-up in a building for emergencies. If there is a fire in abuilding and the single network is broken, it is possible that computersmay not quickly transmit important information to an external backupserver or, it is possible that emergency messages cannot be transmittedto all people in the building about the need to evacuate. Similarly,people who may be stuck in a building that is burning or destroyed by anearthquake, for example, and are trying to call or send messages abouttheir situation may be unable to do so if the major communication medianetwork for their devices is impaired or destroyed.

It would be highly desirable to provide a method, system and computerprogram product that enables a single computing device to communicateconcurrently using multiple network access (NA) points for a singlecommunications session.

SUMMARY

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide computingdevices functionality for concurrently utilizing multiple network access(NA) points for a single communications session and, particularly, asystem, method and computer program product for enabling the concurrentuse of multiple NA points for a single communications session.

According to the invention, all multiple NA points are encapsulated intoa single generalized network interface, installed both at the receiverand transmitter ends. In practice, this is accomplished using a softwarelayer that allows programmers and users to send and receive messageswithout specifying which NA point to use. A policy will be specified todictate how to combine the use of the different available NA's (thecommunication “mode”). For example, a simple policy can be: “use onlythe Ethernet port” or “when both wireless and Ethernet are available useEthernet”, etc. More complicated policies will allow trading off andenhancing security, reliability, and availability of the desiredcommunication. Finally, the invention permits the introduction ofdifferent services using policies that optimize the use of the differentNA's based on criteria such as speed, latency, BER (Bit Error Rate),dollar cost, etc.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system andmethod for enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA)points for a single communications session, each of the multiple NApoints being encapsulated into a single network interface, wherein thesingle network interface implemented at both a receiver device and atransmitter device transmits and receives data respectively via at leastone communications media, such that a communication policy isimplemented to specify how to combine the use of the different availableNA points via said single network interface and wherein, messages may besent and received without specifying which NA point to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, aspects and advantages of the structures and methodsof the present invention will become better understood with regard tothe following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawingswhere:

FIG. 1 illustrates a high level block diagram of a communication systemimplementing various aspects of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of emergency back up using the invention;

FIG. 3 depicts an example scenario of a stenographic interpretationservice over Internet using the invention;

FIG. 4 depicts the methodology employed at the transmitter device forcommunicating according to the present invention; and,

FIG. 5 depicts the methodology employed at the receiver device forcommunicating according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram showing the different componentscomprising the system 10 for utilizing multiple network access (NA)points for a single communications session according to the invention.Particularly, as shown in FIG. 1, the system 10 of the inventionencapsulates available multiple communication networks 12 a, 12 b, . . ., 12 n into a single “network” interface that can be used by a computingdevice such as a personal computer, PDA, etc. This single network allowsfor two end-user devices—device A and device B, each having one of morenetwork access points, to communicate. The device A and device B eachinterface with the multiple communication networks 12 a, 12 b, . . . ,12 n through a single point of entry, represented in FIG. 1 as a policy15 a, 15 b, respectively. Since both devices use the same policy, deviceA knows how to recombine packets received via the multiple networks 12a, 12 b, . . . , 12 n from device B, and vice versa, i.e., device Bknows how to recombine packets sent to it via the multiple networks fromdevice A.

Devices A, B may communicate with other computers or networks ofcomputers, for example via communications channels 18, e.g., modem,cable, or other wired media, or may communicate over a wireless networkusing a wireless media through an interface. Thus for example, a network12 may comprise a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN),or can be a client in a client/server arrangement with another computer,etc. All of these configurations, as well as the appropriatecommunications hardware and software, are known in the art. Further, thedevices A,B may connect to a wireless network using a networkingprotocol such as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol(“TCP/IP”) or like IP protocol, over a number of alternative connectionmedia, such as cellular phone, radio frequency links, e.g., Bluetooth,radio frequency networks, satellite networks, etc. The devices A, B mayconnect to a network via TCP or UDP (User Datagram Protocol) over IP,X.25, Frame Relay, ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), PSTN(Public Switched Telephone Network), etc.

In accordance with the invention, a user of device A, via a selectedpolicy 15 a, may implement multiple network media and, via a switchingmechanism, enable switching from a primary media to a different media ifthe primary media is terminated or rendered inoperable. For example,referring back to the example described, if a user receives astenographic transcription over a wired network and it is frozen becauseof Internet problems, then the automatic switching mechanism may beactivated to switch the wired network connection to a cellular modemconnection so that the hearing-impaired end user will continue to getthe transcription over cellular network through the cellular modem.

Referring to FIG. 1, in a particular example communication media such asthe Internet, represented by communications network 12 a, messages arecommunicated as packets that are transmitted from a transmitter node,e.g., device A, to a receiver node, e.g., device B. For any givenmessage that needs to be sent through the network, any device may serveas a transmitter node-emitting packets into the network destined for aparticular receiver node. The receiver node includes a receiving devicethat accepts messages embedded in packets from the network. The receivernode may alternately comprise a transceiver device that first receivespackets and then relays them to a second receiver node (not shown). Atransceiver node is merely a particular case of a network node thatperforms receiving followed by transmitting functions.

According to the invention, the set of rules that specify how to breakdown the message into packets, and which subset of NA's to use for everyindividual packet is referred to as the “policy” 15 a, 15 b. The policymay be viewed as a “shared secret” between the transmitter node (e.g.,Device A) and the receiving node (e.g., Device B). A receiver nodecannot correctly recombine the message sent to it by a transmitter nodewithout knowledge of the policy. Thus, referring to communicationssystem 10 of FIG. 1, both Devices A, B include several Network Access(NA) points. As a message to be communicated is broken into packets, inone embodiment, device A may choose to use different NA's for differentpackets of the same message according to one selected policy 15 a.Implementing an alternative policy, each packet of a message may betransmitted using several NA's in a redundant manner. The receiver node,device B, requires knowledge of the policy to determine how the messagewas broken down into packets in order to reconstruct the message and todetermine which NA's were used for every packet in order to listen onthe correct NA's and extract the correct individual packets. Inoperation, the policy is programmed separately at both the receiver andtransmitter ends. A receiver identifies a packet sent with an unknownpolicy and will throw an error message.

As further shown in FIG. 1, a policy 15 a to be implemented at a messagetransmitting device may be determined according to current informationavailable such as user profile information, the sensed conditions of theenvironment and/or, user biometric information. For instance, a memorystorage device 20 a associated with Device A (a computer) may includeuser profile information 20 a, including, for instance, a user calendar.When referring to this calendar, or, for example, based on a userprofile history, the computing device A may determine that a message tobe sent is urgent and thus may implement a policy to send that data viathe fastest available media if it's urgent. Alternatively, the policymay be determined based on sensed environmental condition, or based onsensed or perceived biometrics data 20 b. For example, a user's pulse orheart rate may be sensed and determined that the user is in an excitedor rushed state. Accordingly, a message may be sent via the fastestroute.

Examples of possible policy types that may be implemented according tothe invention are now described:

A first policy type includes a Security oriented policy that is usefulfor reducing the likelihood of eavesdropping and compromising securetransmitted information. Thus, a security oriented policy includes thesoftware implemented at the receiver for multiplexing packets overdifferent NA's; for example, breaking a message into several packetstreams and transmitting each stream through a different NA.

The implementation of such a security oriented policy is now describedwith respect to an example scenario corresponding to a “Man In TheMiddle (MITM) attack” on a system that utilizes the security orientedpolicy of the invention. In order to carry out a successful MITM attack,a third party attempting to monitor the communication channel mustimplement the following: 1) a tapping device/equipment for all the mediaused; 2) a device that knows the composition/de-composition scheme, inorder to reassemble packets. This scheme is the policy, and may begoverned by a shared secret. Thus, for example, a policy may employ a“media hopping” technique that is analogous to frequency hoppingcommunications technique used in RF/data communications. In the mediahopping technique employed in a security policy, every consecutivepacket or groups of packets are transmitted through a different NA, andthe sequence of NA's is a shared secret.

A second policy type includes a Reliable communication policy thatexploits the different physical properties of different NA's and isuseful for reducing errors that may be caused in message transmissionover a single channel. That is, according to the Reliable communicationpolicy, errors that are caused by different channels (due tocommunication of messages over different NA's) will be statisticallyindependent. This is because the physical phenomena that cause thechannel errors vary significantly across channels. For example, channelfading effects caused by a transmission from a moving vehicle in acellular network, such as network 12 b in FIG. 1, may effect a cellularchannel significantly, but not a radio frequency transmission over acommunications network 12 n in FIG. 1, that uses a much lower frequencyrange. An electrical noise resulting from proximity to high voltagelines may effect any electromagnetic transmission, but will notinterfere with an audio transmission. Therefore, if the same criticalpackets are transmitted through different media, the consistency of thepacket content across the different channels indicates that it is errorfree. In addition, voting schemes across channels may be deployed tocorrect errors. This is a new form of introducing redundancy, similar tothe way convolutional/turbo codes introduce redundancy by adding bitsinto packets. A reliable communication policy may therefore consist oftransmitting all data through all available NA's. The security level islower since the policy is trivial, however the communication reliabilityis extremely high, exploiting the different physical properties of thedifferent NA's.

A third policy type includes a High availability policy that exploitscommunication systems providing continuous network connectivity. Forexample, some mobile applications require a continuous connection to anetwork. Thus, a location-aware application may include a local GlobalPositioning System (GPS) system installed on the mobile device, thatmonitors the device's location and continuously transmits the locationto a control center. Since this kind of an application should always beup and connected, the location information may be transmitted throughall of the available media NAs/channels. An availability oriented policymay therefore include devices that continuously sense available NA's,and transmit messages through all channels. A receiver, receivingcommunications in accordance with such a High availability policy,possesses knowledge of how to ignore the redundancy in case more thanone NA is connected. This is similar to a high reliability policy,except for the fact that the transmitting mode is not expected to be inan area that is covered by all NA's, and a single NA covering the nodewill be sufficient.

A fourth policy type includes an On demand services/Quality of servicepolicy. A network/content provider that operates a multi-channel networkmay use the system of the invention to provide on demand communicationand charge customers based on Quality Of Service (QOS). The contentprovider may offer users different policies to choose from with eachpolicy optimizing a different objective function including, but notlimited to the following: “cheapest communication”, “fastestcommunication”, “latency free communication”, “lowers Bit Error Rate(BER) communication”, etc. The transmitting device includes a devicethat will first negotiate with the different NA's and come up with thebest combination scheme (i.e., a Best policy) for the requestedcommunication session. For example, a user that would like to establisha voice call from his device may ask for the cheapest current connectionthat allows for full duplex low latency (but also low speed) connection.The device will query all the available NA's and will come up with ascheme that uses a public wireless LAN that is currently cheaper (e.g.,because it is on a weekend day) combined with high BER cellular channelthat is also available. The same use may ask to established avideo-on-demand session, and therefore a different policy will be used,with the policy implementing the least expensive reliable fast downlinkwith potentially a slow unreliable (but lest costly) uplink, forexample.

FIG. 2 depicts an example transmitter node (e.g., provided in acomputing device such as a personal computer). The transmitter shown inFIG. 2 comprises multiple access points enabling communications overdifferent communications media, for example, audio, video, monitorradiation, Infrared (IR), etc. in accordance with a specific policy. Forexample, in an office building, a policy may be implemented fortransmitting important data for backup in an emergency situation, e.g.,a burning office building. Thus, the different media can be used as apath consisting of communication channels for transmitting the importantdata, for example, for backup in an emergency situation. As depicted inFIG. 2, the data may be transmitted through many paths as packets andaccording to a policy depicted, may be transmitted through all availablemedia.

As further shown in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, a plurality ofnodes 201 a, . . . , 204 a are provided that represent the differentnetwork media. For example, 201 a may represent a microphone forreceiving audio data, 202 a may comprise a radio transceiver, e.g., forreceiving Bluetooth radio transmission, 204 a, may comprise an IRtransceiver, etc. That is any type of available communications media isrepresented as nodes 201 a, . . . , 204 a. In the case of audio, acomputer device may include an encoding means to encode data in a voice(audio) medium (e.g. via a modulation). Thus, the computer may encodesome data as audio data and use speakers to communicate this data tomicrophones that can be located either in the building, outside thebuilding, or in cars/mobiles that may be specially equipped with sensorsto receive such audio information. In one embodiment, the audioinformation can be embedded in carrier frequencies that are not heard bya person in order to not affect peoples' hearing.

Referring to the use of automobiles, it is understood thatautomobiles/mobiles are now equipped to function as a valid source anddestination of communication. However, as automobiles suffercommunication problems due to both being mobile and moving fast (e.g.,RF channel fading), they need more reliable/available communication.Furthermore, as an automobile may exhibit several emergency situations(e.g., breakdown, accident), the prioritizing properties describedherein would be extremely beneficial as they are equipped with multipleNA's such as radio, satellite, etc.

In another embodiment, different computers in the same location maycommunicate information via audio at the same time (e.g., choosingdifferent frequencies or time intervals for broadcasting). Similarly,using images on screens and cameras in a building one can communicateencoded video data in an emergency situation. For example, in a furtherembodiment, an available media, i.e., a communication channel, maycomprise a CRT and special sensor devices that monitor emitted radiationand which may be located both inside and outside building. As shown inFIG. 2, these nodes 201 a, . . . , 204 a may further include conversionmechanisms for converting transmission received via one media into acommunication via another available media. For example, node 201 a maycomprise a microphone that picks-up a received audio data (e.g., voice)transmission and converts it to a radio frequency communicationincluding modulated audio data. Alternately, nodes 201 a, . . . , 204 amay represent a router or switch that is capable of selecting differentmedia based on current network load, or based on security requirements.

As further depicted in FIG. 2, packets transmitted through the differentpaths and received at the nodes 201 a, . . . , 204 a send back to theoriginating transmitter acknowledgment information 201 b, . . . , 204 b,respectively, to inform whether the packets will be received at therespective destination points and via what kind of media. Thisinformation may be used by backup services to reduce number ofduplications of these packets and initiate continued transmission ofpackets only in the kind of media that is reliable (i.e., is notdestroyed by a fire in the burning office building scenario, forexample).

In a further embodiment, the data in a computer is prioritized. Forexample, very important data (e.g., text files or notes that have justrecently been created) can be encoded in voice. If computers receiveinformation from smoke/heat sensors detecting an emergency situation(e.g., a fire) and the standard communications network at the buildinghas failed, then speakers in the transmitting PC may generate audio datawith encoded messages. These messages can be either repeated again andagain or, voice communication can be established between computers andexternal backup devices that confirm receiving the data (this assumesthat computers have also microphones that capable to receive externalsounds). In a similar operation, other channels may be considered forcommunication. Additionally, computers with broken network communicationchannels inside the building can communicate with other computers in thesame room whose network communication channels are working.

In a particular example shown in FIG. 2, where the system includes amain transmitter device 200 operating with the personal computer, in aburning office building scenario, a high availability policy 15 a wouldbe implemented that would enable the transmitting device 200 to transmitall its data for emergency back-up. Communication links depicted byarrows 201, 202, 203, 204 represent the communication channelscomprising various different communication media. For example, path 201corresponds to an audio channel, path 202 corresponds to a radiochannel, path 203 corresponds to an audio channel, and path 204corresponds to an IR communications channel. As depicted in FIG. 2,nodes 201 a, 202 a, 203 a, 204 a are transmitter devices that convertreceived data into packets according to the policy for transmissionaccording to the chosen media type. Communication links depicted byarrows 201 b, 202 b, 203 b, 204 b are acknowledgement messages that aresent as packets back to the main transmitter 200 to indicate that thedata packets have been successfully passed via the corresponding paths.

FIG. 3 depicts an example scenario described wherein a user 300 receivesa transcription from a stenographer, for example, via a networkconnection such as the Internet 303. Block 301 is a computer device thatreceives the transcription over the Internet 303 via a cablecommunications channel 306 a, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, thestenographer 302 provides a transcription for communication over theInternet 303 via the wired (cable) communications media 306 a. Acomputer device 302 implemented by the stenographer includes a switchingnode 305 that switches to a wireless connection 306 b, a cellular phonewireless media connection, for example, if the prime Internet connection306 a is interrupted or rendered inoperable. Similarly, any kind ofremote transcription service (for example, via automatic speechrecognition) that are performed over the Internet may implement aswitching policy to enable routing of signals via the different media.

FIG. 4 depicts a communication methodology 400 implemented at therouter/transmitter according to one aspect of the invention. As shown ina first step 401, a communications policy is determined, for example,security, high availability, or On-demand/quality of service. Asdescribed herein, this may be determined by user profile data, obtainedbiometrics, etc. After determining a policy, the data/message to betransmitted over several media is split into several packets at step403. In the next process step 404, a decision is made as to whetherseveral different media are available according to the particular policyto be implemented. If several different media are not available, thenthe data packets are sent via any of the available media as depicted atstep 405. If several different media are available, then the processproceeds to step 406 to determine whether there are requirements foradditional robustness of data, or emergency requests, etc., e.g.,according to obtained biometrics data/sensed environment, etc. If thereare there requirements for additional robustness of data, or emergencyrequests, then the process proceeds to step 407 where packets areduplicated for transmission in all available media. If at step 406 it isdetermined that there are no requirements for additional robustness ofdata, or emergency requests, then the process proceeds to step 408 wherethe transmission device is implemented for sending data via the mostefficient communications media format.

FIG. 5 depicts the methodology 500 employed at the receiver device forcommunicating according to the invention. As shown in a first step 501,the communications policy implemented by the transmitter is determined.This policy implemented at the receiver may have been previouslycommunicated by the transmitter device or predetermined according to thesending devices, or may default to a particular policy, for example,based on user profile data/obtained biometrics/or environmentconditions, etc. After determining a policy, a determination is made atstep 502 as to whether the data/message received is to be combined byreceiving packets over the different media. If the packets are receivedover different media and combined, then an acknowledgement message isreturned back to the sender that the message has been received andcombined successfully. If the packets are not to be combined but requirefurther conversion from a first media to a different media, e.g., radioto audio, then a determination is made at step 504 to determine whetherthe packets are to be converted to that different media. If the media isto be converted, then an acknowledgement message is returned back to thesender that the message has been received and combined successfully. Ifthe media is not to be converted, then a determination is made at step506 as to whether the data is to be analyzed. If the data is analyzed,then an error message may be communicated back to the sender at step507. Otherwise, the data is resent as indicated at step 508. Thus, FIG.5 exemplifies the fact that the received data may optionally be analyzedand potentially converted in order to satisfy the rules of theimplemented policy. The software layer that manages the policy needs toknow the properties of the NA's (e.g., BER, latency, etc.) and mayoptionally decide to convert from one method of communication toanother. Another very simple example is availability: if a message hasbeen received via IR, but IR is not available for the next leg ofcommunication, then it should be converted to whatever alternativecommunication media that is available.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to illustrative and preformed embodiments thereof, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and otherchanges in form and details may be made therein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention which should be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

1. A system for enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA)points for a single communications session, each said multiple NA pointsbeing encapsulated into a single network interface, said single networkinterface implemented at both a receiver device and a transmitter devicefor transmitting and receiving data respectively via at least onecommunications media, such that a communication policy is implemented tospecify how to combine the use of the different available NA points viasaid single network interface, said communication policy specifyingwhich of said multiple NA points are implemented for high availabilitypurposes, wherein, messages may be sent and received without specifyingwhich NA point to use.
 2. The system for enabling concurrent use ofmultiple network access (NA) points as claimed in claim 1, wherein animplemented communication policy specifies which of said multiple NApoints are implemented for security purposes.
 3. The system for enablingconcurrent use of multiple network access (NA) points as claimed inclaim 2, wherein a transmitter and receiver device implementing saidcommunication policy for security purposes includes the means formultiplexing and demultiplexing of data packets over said specifiedNA's.
 4. The system for enabling concurrent use of multiple networkaccess (NA) points as claimed in claim 1, wherein an implementedcommunication policy specifies which of said multiple NA points areimplemented for reliability purposes.
 5. The system for enablingconcurrent use of multiple network access (NA) points as claimed inclaim 4, wherein a transmitter and receiver device implementing saidcommunication policy for reliability purposes includes the transmissionand reception of identical critical packets through different media. 6.The system for enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA)points as claimed in claim 1, wherein a transmitter and receiver deviceimplementing said communication policy for high availability purposesincludes the transmission and reception of high availability packetsthrough all available communications media.
 7. The system for enablingconcurrent use of multiple network access (NA) points as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an implemented communication policy specifies whichsaid multiple NA points are implemented for optimizing communicationsquality of service.
 8. The system for enabling concurrent use ofmultiple network access (NA) points as claimed in claim 7, wherein atransmitter and receiver device implementing said communication policyfor optimizing communications quality of service optimizes the use ofthe different NA's based on one or more of the following criteriaselected from the group comprising: speed, latency, Bit Error Rate,cost.
 9. The system for enabling concurrent use of multiple networkaccess (NA) points as claimed in claim 1, wherein an implementedcommunication policy is determined according to user profile informationregarding a user at the transmitter device.
 10. The system for enablingconcurrent use of multiple network access (NA) points as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an implemented communication policy is determined thesensed conditions of the environment at the transmitter device.
 11. Thesystem for enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA)points as claimed in claim 1, wherein an implemented communicationpolicy is determined according to biometric information of a user at thetransmitter device.
 12. A method for enabling concurrent use of multiplenetwork access (NA) points for a single communications sessioncomprising the steps of: a. encapsulating each said multiple NA pointsinto a single network interface, said single network interfaceimplemented at both a receiver device and a transmitter device forrespectively transmitting and receiving data via at least onecommunications media; and, b. implementing a communication policy atboth said single network interfaces to specify how to combine the use ofthe different available NA points via said single network interface,said communication policy specifying which of said multiple NA pointsare implemented for high availability purposes, wherein messages may besent and received without specifying which NA point to use.
 13. Themethod for enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA)points as claimed in claim 12, further including the step of: providinga communication policy specifying which of said multiple NA points areimplemented for security purposes.
 14. The method for enablingconcurrent use of multiple network access (NA) points as claimed inclaim 13, wherein said step of providing said communication policy forsecurity purposes includes the steps of: multiplexing data packets fromsaid transmitter device over said specified NA's and, demultiplexing atsaid receiver device said data packets over said specified NA's.
 15. Themethod for enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA)points as claimed in claim 12, further including the step of: providinga communication policy specifying which of said multiple NA points areimplemented for reliability purposes.
 16. The method for enablingconcurrent use of multiple network access (NA) points as claimed inclaim 15, wherein said step of providing said communication policy forreliability purposes includes the steps of: transmitting data packetsfrom said transmitter device over said specified NA's corresponding todifferent media and receiving at said receiver device said data packetsover said specified NA's through said different media.
 17. The methodfor enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA) points asclaimed in claim 12, wherein said step of providing said communicationpolicy for high availability purposes includes the steps of:transmitting data packets from said transmitter device over specifiedNA's corresponding to all available media and receiving at said receiverdevice said data packets over said specified NA's corresponding to allavailable media.
 18. The method for enabling concurrent use of multiplenetwork access (NA) points as claimed in claim 12, further including thestep of: providing a communication policy specifying which of saidmultiple NA points are implemented for optimizing communications qualityof service.
 19. The method for enabling concurrent use of multiplenetwork access (NA) points as claimed in claim 18, wherein said step ofproviding said communication policy for optimizing communicationsquality of service includes the steps of: transmitting data packets fromsaid transmitter device over specified NA's in accordance with one ormore QoS criteria and, receiving at said receiver device said datapackets over said specified NA's in accordance with one or more QoScriteria, said QoS criteria selected from the group comprising: speed,latency, Bit Error Rate, cost.
 20. The method for enabling concurrentuse of multiple network access (NA) points as claimed in claim 12,wherein said step b) of implementing a communication policy at both saidsingle network interfaces includes accessing user profile informationregarding a user at the transmitter device and implementing saidcommunication policy according to said user profile information.
 21. Themethod for enabling concurrent use of multiple network access (NA)points as claimed in claim 12, wherein said step b) of implementing acommunication policy at both said single network interfaces includessensing conditions of the environment at the transmitter device andimplementing said communication policy according to said sensedenvironment conditions.
 22. The method for enabling concurrent use ofmultiple network access (NA) points as claimed in claim 12, wherein saidstep b) of implementing a communication policy at both said singlenetwork interfaces includes accessing biometric information of a user atthe transmitter device and implementing said communication policyaccording to said biometric information.